Waterproof and permeable cloth

ABSTRACT

The waterproof and permeable cloth includes a permeable waterproof layer, a first permeable coating layer attached to an inner side of the permeable waterproof layer, a second permeable coating layer attached to an outer side of the permeable waterproof layer, a moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer attached to an inner side of the first permeable coating layer, and a cloth layer attached to an outer side of the second permeable coating layer. The moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer includes multiple grid cells cascaded together. Each grid cell has an aperture that is smaller than outside water molecules but is greater than inside moist molecules. Therefore, outside water molecules cannot permeate through the grid cells inside, but inside moist molecules may be expelled outside. The cloth therefore is waterproof but also absorbent and permeable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally related to cloth, and more particular to a type of waterproof and permeable cloth.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Cotton cloth is commonly used for clothing due to its softness, capable of keeping warmth, permeability, and hygroscopicity. However, it also suffers shortcomings such as difficulty to dry. Cotton fibers absorb water molecules from the wearer and the water molecules remain in the fibers, causing the fibers to become yellowish, and adding the burden to the wearer due to the increased weight.

Therefore, synthetic fibers such as polyamide, polyester, polyacrylonitrile, etc. are developed. These fibers have advantages such as windproof, waterproof, light weight, and gloss, and therefore are commonly applied to umbrellas, rain coats, suits, etc. However, they are also not absorbent, airtight, etc. The body heat of the wearer cannot be ventilated, and his/her rising temperature would be adjusted by perspiration. The wearer would feel sultry, wet, and sticky. The wearer may even develop eczema or sweat stain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a kind of cloth that is waterproof but also absorbent and permeable.

The waterproof and permeable cloth of the present invention includes a permeable waterproof layer, a first permeable coating layer attached to an inner side of the permeable waterproof layer, a second permeable coating layer attached to an outer side of the permeable waterproof layer, a moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer attached to an inner side of the first permeable coating layer, and a cloth layer attached to an outer side of the second permeable coating layer.

The moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer includes multiple grid cells cascaded together. Each grid cell has an aperture that is smaller than outside water molecules but is greater than inside moist molecules. Therefore, outside water molecules (a) cannot permeate through the grid cells inside, but inside moist molecules may be expelled outside. The cloth therefore is waterproof but also absorbent and permeable.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic diagram showing an item of waterproof and permeable cloth according to an embodiment of the present invention applied to a clothing

FIG. 2 is a sectional diagram showing the waterproof and permeable cloth of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the operation of the waterproof and permeable cloth of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

As shown in FIG. 1, an item of cloth 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be applied to form clothing 4 (e.g., an upper wear, pants, a coat, etc.) that it both waterproof and permeable. In the following, a coat formed using the present invention is used as example.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cloth 3 includes a permeable waterproof layer 31, a first permeable coating layer 32 attached to an inner side of the permeable waterproof layer 31, a second permeable coating layer 33 attached to an outer side of the permeable waterproof layer 31, a moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer 34 attached to an inner side of the first permeable coating layer 32, and a cloth layer 35 attached to an outer side of the second permeable coating layer 33. The permeable waterproof layer 31 may be made of Teflon, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or other waterproof material. The moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer 34 may be made of polyurethane, and the cloth layer 35 may be made of cotton fibers, flax fibers, etc.

The moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer 34 includes multiple grid cells 341 cascaded together. Each grid cell 341 has an aperture 341 d that is smaller than outside water molecules (a) but is greater than inside moist molecules (b). Therefore, outside water molecules (a) cannot permeate through the grid cells 341 inside, but inside moist molecules (b) may be expelled outside. The moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer 34 as such may resist outside water molecules (a) but allow inside moist molecules (b) to permeate through.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, when the cloth 3 is used for clothing 4, the cloth layer 35 is the outmost layer and the moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer 34 is the innermost layer. The permeable waterproof layer 31 is disposed between the cloth layer 35 and the moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer 34. The first permeable coating layer 32 and the second permeable coating layer 33 are adhesive and the cloth layer 35 and the moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer 34 are reliably adhered to two sides of the permeable waterproof layer 31, respectively. The softness of the cloth layer 35 provides a comfortable touch to a wearer of the clothing 4. When water is split on the clothing 4, the permeable waterproof layer 31 prevents water molecules (a) from permeating inside into the moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer 34. On the other hand, due to the grid cells 341 of the moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer 34 and their aperture dimension being between the water molecules (a) and moist molecules (b), as shown in FIG. 2, the moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer 34 not only further prevents water molecules (a) from permeating inside the clothing 4, but also allows the sweats from the wearer (i.e., moist molecules (b)) to be absorbed by the moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer 34 and then expelled through the grid cells 341, the permeable waterproof layer 31, and the cloth layer 35 outside the clothing 4, thereby providing a dry and comfortable wearing experience to the wearer. The clothing 4 as such is permeable, absorbent, and waterproof

As described above, the waterproof and permeable cloth has the permeable waterproof layer preventing water molecules from permeating inside the clothing and has the moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer to further prevent water molecules from permeating inside the clothing and to absorb moist molecules. The moist molecules are then expelled through the grid cells, the permeable waterproof layer, and the cloth layer outside the clothing. The permeable waterproof layer and the moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer as such jointly provide dual waterproofing mechanism and the cloth is therefore absorbent, permeable, and waterproof.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention. 

I claim:
 1. A waterproof and permeable cloth, comprising: a permeable waterproof layer; a first permeable coating layer attached to an inner side of the permeable waterproof layer; a second permeable coating layer attached to an outer side of the permeable waterproof layer; a moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer attached to an inner side of the first permeable coating layer; and a cloth layer attached to an outer side of the second permeable coating layer; wherein the moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer comprises a plurality of grid cells cascaded together; each grid cell has an aperture that is smaller than outside water molecules but is greater than inside moist molecules, so that outside water molecules cannot permeate through the grid cells inside, but inside moist molecules may be expelled outside.
 2. The waterproof and permeable cloth according to claim 1, wherein the permeable waterproof layer is made of Teflon or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
 3. The waterproof and permeable cloth according to claim 1, wherein the moisture-absorbing permeable waterproof layer is made of polyurethane. 